Let’s Talk Turkey: 8 Ideas for Gobble-Worthy Chocolate Turkeys

 

Happy Halloween! In true candy-maker style, we know you’re already preparing for the next holiday (and the next, and the next)! If you’re looking for new ideas to make your customers gobble more of your chocolate this Thanksgiving, then look no further! We’re sharing 8 gobble-worthy chocolate turkey ideas for everyone and every budget.

Photo credit: Quix Chocolate

Hand-Painted Chocolate Turkey Centerpiece
This beauty is for the Thanksgiving “host with the most” looking for a show-stopping fall centerpiece! Hand-painted, oversized moulded chocolates, like this one crafted by RCI Member Quix Chocolate in Ferndale, Michigan, also make for an eye-catching display in your retail store. Consider displaying a single large moulded piece, like this, to suggest special orders for large centerpieces.

Even if you sell one or none, these magnificent pieces can help represent your talent, artistry and broad range, along with serving as a conversation starter both in-store and online—so don’t miss an opportunity to show these items off through your social channels!

Other RCI members have shared how they use large moulded items as a holiday giveaway or raffle off with the proceeds going toward a local cause.

Photo Credit: Graham’s Chocolates

Chocolate Turkey Pop
There’s just an extra something special about moulded chocolates on a stick! We think this chocolate turkey pop by Graham’s Chocolates looks especially regal with the addition of a shiny orange bow, and the way it's styled in front of a festive stack of pumpkins really draws the eye.

Photo credit: The Madelaine Chocolate Company

Foil-Wrapped Mini Chocolate Turkey
Thanksgiving is a time to be grateful! We’re grateful for RCI Supplier Members, like The Madelaine Chocolate Company who makes high-quality chocolate moulded pieces like these cute foil-wrapped mini chocolate turkeys (and other moulded turkeys of literally every shape and size) so you don’t have to! We love how The Madelaine Chocolate Company shares lifestyle photos of their chocolate turkeys as part of picture-perfect table settings on their social media pages illustrating how their products can be used to elevate any Thanksgiving table.

Photo credit: Water’s Edge Chocolates

Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Turkey
Before you go looking for the wishbone, let me tell you that this teeny, tiny turkey is actually a chocolate-covered strawberry made by RCI Member, Water’s Edge Chocolates of Tullahoma, Tennessee. Pretty convincing, if you ask us! If you already have a following of chocolate-covered strawberry lovers, you’re going to want to click here for a video tutorial by Taste of Home!

Photo credit: Bruce’s Candy Kitchen

Chocolate-Covered Nutter Butter^® Turkey

Transform your chocolate-covered Nutter Butter^® cookies into cute little turkeys with the addition of a turkey face sugar decoration and candy corn. If you don’t have these sugar decorations, consider using candy eyes and hand-piping the beak and wattle with colored chocolate. 

Photo credit: Bruce’s Candy Kitchen

Chocolate-Covered Oreo^® Turkey

RCI Member Bruce’s Candy Kitchen of Cannon Beach, Oregon shares another example of how to transform a chocolate-covered Oreo^® into a sweet turkey tom! We especially love the preview of their festive packaging in the background.

Photo credit: One Little Project

Peanut Butter Cup Turkey
If you make your own peanut butter cups or a similar round-shaped chocolate, or even a chocolate-covered sandwich cookie, use your imagination to create an elevated version of this turkey that is sure to be even more delicious than it is cute. Click here for a tutorial by One Little Project.

Photo credit: Frugal Coupon Living

Pretzel Stick Turkey
Everyone loves the salty, sweet combination of chocolate-covered pretzels! Here’s another idea that your customers are sure to gobble up! The addition of sugar eyes, a candy-coated chocolate and yes, more candy corn, to your chocolate-covered pretzel sticks concludes our compilation of gobble-worthy chocolate turkeys.

While Thanksgiving is probably not a big sales holiday for your business, any reason to catch the attention of shoppers before Christmas could lead to a big sales opportunity! Even if you don’t have time to try these ideas this year, we encourage you to try something new for Thanksgiving! With each sale, make sure to invite customers back to do their Christmas shopping or sign up for your email list.

Crave more? Click here to subscribe and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's blog is just one of the many resources we offer to help candy makers refine their craft and build upon their business and marketing practices. Follow us on Facebook for even more sweet inspiration.

Not a member? Click here to learn how RCI can help you build your sweet business.

Collaborate to Get More Customers for Small Business Saturday

So, it’s almost November. This means Small Business Saturday is right around the corner!

If you’re a small business and this is not on your radar, it definitely should be. This year Small Business Saturday will take place on November 25 (it's always the Saturday after Thanksgiving). Unlike Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which are largely dominated by big box stores, this is a day to celebrate small business and encourage holiday shoppers to visit the brick-and-mortar businesses that serve their local community.

One of the greatest strengths of the Small Business Saturday movement is the way it brings communities together. Not only does it help small businesses attract consumers in their local communities, but it sparks opportunities for those businesses to work together toward that common goal. This week’s tip serves up actionable strategies for collaborating with fellow businesses in your community.

Cross-Promote Special Offers and Events
When a favorite local business or a neighboring business is promoting a sale or special event, offer to help promote it. This could be in the form of a shout out on social media, placing their sales flyer in your customers’ bags or promoting their special offer or event at the bottom of your eblast as part of a “what’s happening in our community” section. Sure, you could do it purely out of the goodness in your heart, but chances are the right partner is going to return the favor.

Not only will this practice create great relationships with fellow small businesses (not to mention, champions for your business), but it will also give your brand awareness legs. By expanding your reach through partnering businesses, you will have the capability to reach consumers you may not have ever had the chance to reach on your own.

Team Up on Traditional Advertising
For many small businesses, advertising through traditional channels like print, radio and tv may seem wildly out of reach, but have you ever considered splitting the cost between like-minded businesses in your community? As an example, a group of retailers from the small Canadian town of Almonte, near Ottawa, shared the common goal of attracting more consumers to their small town. By teaming up they were able to stretch their resources and purchase an ad in a regional magazine, valued at $1,000, for only $80 a month. “We don’t necessarily get our own ad, but it’s for Almonte,” said Emily Arbour, the owner of Cheerfully Made Goods. “If the town’s busy, then we all benefit.” Read more about their story, featured on Shopify.com.

Although Small Business Saturday may be a great way to get the ball rolling, don’t let your collaborations end after November 25. Use the event as an opportunity to experiment with different partners and find out what works well for all parties involved. If you find a partnership that works, begin to brainstorm ways to collaborate throughout the year.

If you’re asking yourself “what other businesses should I be collaborating with?” Read this article on LinkedIn for sage advice on how to find the right match for your business. Your local Chamber of Commerce is another resource for connecting with local businesses. Also, if you haven’t done so already, apply to be a Small Business Saturday “Neighborhood Champion” and get connected with other local champions participating in the movement. Click here for more information about how to get involved.

Crave more? Click here to subscribe and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's blog is just one of the many resources we offer to help candy makers refine their craft and build upon their business and marketing practices. Follow us on Facebook for even more sweet inspiration.

Not a member? Click here to learn how RCI can help you build your sweet business.

3 Ways to Maximize Sales with Packaging

 

Packaging serves many purposes, from providing protection to conveying one’s brand and marketing message. Unique and distinctive packaging can be a powerful tool allowing you to differentiate your product, increase sales and create an emotional connection with customers.

Fazio’s Chocolate uses this custom gondola-inspired box to represent the founder’s Italian heritage.

Pique Interest
Creative packaging provides an engaging visual experience that can help to pique shopper interest and make them more likely to purchase the product. Unique packaging can also act as a form of advertising, drawing attention to the product and helping it stand out from the competition.

 

Peterbrooke Chocolatier’s bold brand colors are used with consistency in their packaging, stickers, bags and bows leaving little doubt that customers know they’re in for a treat when they see bright pink and blue packaging.

Brand Recognition
Distinctive packaging can also help to increase brand recognition. Customers are more likely to remember and recognize a product if it has an attention-grabbing packaging design. By utilizing clear and consistent branding, customers will be more likely to recall your product when looking to make a purchase.

Reid Candy & Nut Shop’s strong local ties are evident in their use of imagery that represents the community they've been a part of since 1971. 

Emotional Connection
Finally, packaging can be used to create an emotional connection between customers and the product. By using packaging that evokes a feeling or sentiment, it can help you create an emotional bond with customers, which can lead to increased sales and build customer loyalty.

Looking to level up your packaging? Check out RCI’s Buyer’s Guide for a list of trusted confectionery packaging suppliers. RCI members must login for direct contact information. If you’re not a member of RCI and you would like to request contact information for RCI’s packaging supplier members, contact our office at 417-883-2775.

Crave more? Click here to subscribe and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's blog is just one of the many resources we offer to help candy makers refine their craft and build upon their business and marketing practices. Follow us on Facebook for even more sweet inspiration.

Not a member? Click here to learn how RCI can help you build your sweet business.

Best of Halloween: Top Halloween Posts from the RCI Blog

Photo credits (from left): Bruce's Candy Kitchen, Apple Tree Chocolate, Graham's Chocolates, Hillard's Chocolates

This week we’re sharing a spooky compilation of the best Halloween posts from the RCI blog! This monster mash-up is packed with tips and tricks to help you dress up your caramel apples, transform existing treats and create smashing new ones that are quick and easy to incorporate into your product lineup. So, grab your broomstick and let's fly through our compilation of spooky delicious Halloween confections.

6 Ways to Dress Your Apples for Halloween
You may already have a Halloween costume in mind for yourself, but what about your apples? For shoppers looking for unique treats this Halloween, here are six ways to dress up both candy and caramel apples for Halloween.

5 Tricks to Transform Your Existing Treats for Halloween
If you already make chocolate-covered pretzels, truffles or marshmallow pops, the following ideas will require very little, if any, additional ingredients and minimal effort. Keep reading for five quick and easy tricks to dress up your existing treats for Halloween.

Smash Treats for a Frighteningly Fun Halloween

Want to spice up your seasonal lineup with something exciting? Look no further than the smash pumpkin and other smashing treats! These delightful creations are simple hollow pumpkin or jack-o-lantern moulds that are filled to the brim with goodies of your choice. But the best part? The recipients get to smash these hollow-moulded pieces open to reveal the sweet treasures hidden inside!

When looking for new Halloween ideas, it’s important to consider what your customers are looking for from your business versus what they can get at the local supermarket. Offering creative, unique and eye-catching products may be just the ticket to get them to spend their Halloween dollars with your business!

Crave more? Click here to subscribe and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's blog is just one of the many resources we offer to help candy makers refine their craft and build upon their business and marketing practices. Follow us on Facebook for even more sweet inspiration.

Not a member? Click here to learn how RCI can help you build your sweet business.

Email Marketing Made Easy with Automation

Imagine being able to set your email marketing on autopilot.

With a little forward-thinking and planning, email automation makes it possible. Email automation is a tool that allows you to create an email or sequence of emails through the use of an email marketing service, such as Constant Contact, MailChimp (available for both free and paid plans) or others. Once the email(s) are created and perimeters are in place (such as the order or frequency you decide), these emails will automatically go out to contacts after they perform a specific action, such as joining your email list or making a purchase. Once set up, automated emails work on autopilot so you can focus on other areas of your business.

Create an Automated Welcome Email Series
According to a report by Omnisend, “welcome emails have an average open rate of 45%, versus 18% for promotional emails.” Naturally the first email in a welcome series should thank subscribers for joining your email list. Shopify recommends keeping welcome emails clean and easy to understand, with a brief description of your brand, how you’re different, what you have in common with shoppers and why shoppers should be excited. Make sure details regarding store hours, locations and contact information are accessible by linking to this information on your website or including it in the email footer. Don’t forget to always include a call to action. This may be a link to your website with an invitation to “shop now” or follow your social media pages. 

For the second email in the series, you should teach readers something. This could include details about your products (e.g., high-quality ingredients, small-batch confections) or something relevant to your product or audience, such as tips for choosing the perfect gift for anyone and any occasion. Your call to action might include a link to a cool video that drives home your message or a coupon or promotional code as a gift for subscribing—just make sure to skip the expiration date since you won’t know when your contact will receive the offer.

To make the subsequent emails effective, consider content that will be useful to your audience. Constant Contact suggests using the following questions to determine which information would be most relevant to your audience, as well as the number of emails to include in a series and the frequency of which to send those emails.

• What do they want to know?
• What do they need to know?
• What are their needs, problems and challenges?

Answering these questions will help you to develop communication that nurtures and engages with prospective and returning customers.

Avoid Time-Sensitive Content
Once you’ve determined which information is relevant to your contacts, make sure to avoid time-sensitive content. Since the dates contacts receive your automated emails will vary based on when they sign up for your email list (or take another action), be mindful not to include information or photos that might become outdated upon receipt—such as specific dates, holidays or seasons. Although much of the beauty of an automated email is that you can “set it and forget it,” don’t forget it entirely. Make plans to review each email periodically to ensure it’s still relevant and current.

By investing time upfront to craft a simple, yet effective automated email series, your efforts are sure to pay off by converting more contacts to customers and building customer relationships that lead to lifelong loyalty and brand advocacy.

Crave more? Click here to subscribe and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's blog is just one of the many resources we offer to help candy makers refine their craft and build upon their business and marketing practices. Follow us on Facebook for even more sweet inspiration.

Not a member? Click here to learn how RCI can help you build your sweet business.